AXED St Kilda forward Ahmed Saad has admitted the day he was caught using a banned energy drink was not the first time he taken taken it before a game.

Saad has been suspended for 18 months - backdated to August - for taking the banned stimulant methylsynephrine, contained in the pre-workout drink "Before Battle".

The former Saint said today he had used the Viking Protein product previously, and he didn't ask if the drink contained any banned ingredients because it came from a trusted source.

"We did go through courses and stuff like that but from where I got the product was someone that was a mentor and a family member for me. I had that much trust in him, it was as if a coach had given me that product," the 24-year-old told SEN radio.

"He didn't check if it was banned or not, I didn't either because coming from him was like coming from a coach. It was quite surprising when we did find out for both of us."

News_Rich_Media: St Kilda player Ahmed Saad has spoken to the media for the first time after receiving an 18-month ban from AFL for consuming a banned substance.

Saad only thought to ask his doctor about the energy drink after he was subject to a routine ASADA drug test this season.

"I took the test as I normally would and didn't think anything of it, disclosed everything that I took that day. Then I showed it to my doctor, actually, that day as well and that was it, I found out there was a banned substance in there.

"(The doctor) just said, 'There's a substance here that I'm not too sure about' and he checked it up really quick and found out it was a banned substance, so we knew I was in a bit of trouble," he said.

News_Image_File: Ahmed Saad has played 29 games for the Saints.

Saad hopes to return to the AFL in 2015 - and not necessarily with St Kilda.

He will be eligible to nominate for next year's draft and says he will be in better shape than players who miss 12 months with a knee injury.

"I worked really hard to get to where I am. It's devastating and it does crush me, it only puts some fuel in me to come back better," he said.

"I don't think my career is over, I'm going to work hard to make sure I'm back next year and hopefully I can be picked up again.

"Guys miss 12 months with doing their knee. I'm still fit, I'm ready to go right now and all I have to do is make sure I stay in shape.

"I've already got that by a good pre-season so far and I'll continue to do that."

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